BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 Voters will decide Aug. 18 whether to give Broward County School Board member Allen Zeman another term or hand the countywide District 8 seat to challenger Sonja Azim. <\/p>\n
The nonpartisan race pits an incumbent touting academic gains against a former educator focused on equity, teacher pay and school safety.<\/p>\n
Zeman is seeking to hold onto the seat he won in a runoff four years ago. He says the district has made significant academic progress during his first term.<\/p>\n
\u201cA year into my first four years we became an \u2018A\u2019 district. We\u2019ve become an \u2018A\u2019 district for three years in a row,\u201d Zeman said.<\/p>\n
He also points to the number of students who have improved their academic performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve lifted over 25,000 students to above or at grade level that were below grade level before,\u201d Zeman added.<\/p>\n
Azim is running against Zeman. She is a former special education teacher and director who spent 14 years in education and previously served as dean of Renaissance Charter School.<\/p>\n
Azim says Broward schools face inequities in everything from facilities and academic programs to discipline.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an equitability crisis on Broward Schools where our students don\u2019t all have the same access or equitability to the same facility, upkeep and maintenance, academic programs, and the way that the discipline is measured out is inequitable,\u201d Azim said.<\/p>\n
Teacher pay is another issue where the candidates say they want to see change.<\/p>\n
Zeman has repeatedly called for higher salaries for teachers and says he would continue pushing for raises if reelected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot underestimate the contribution that teachers make to the well-being of our community and to the economic vitality of Broward County,\u201d Zeman said.<\/p>\n
Azim also says she would fight for higher teacher pay. She is making school safety another key part of her campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we need to have a comprehensive safety training program so that everybody, every employee in Broward Schools is prepared for the next critical day,\u201d Azim said.<\/p>\n
The School Board District 8 race is nonpartisan, so voters do not have to be registered with a political party to participate.<\/p>\n
Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 18.<\/p>\n